CHERRY POINT, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has proposed an update to workplace safety rules for the state’s petroleum refineries, including two at Cherry Point.

The rules are designed to help prevent catastrophic events like the 2010 explosion at the former Tesoro refinery in Anacortes that left seven workers dead.

Proposed requirements include consideration of human factors like fatigue, analyzing hazards and safeguards, and assessing workplace safety and culture.

The department says it has been almost 30 years since the last update and new rules are needed to keep up with changes to technology at the state’s five refineries.

The filing of the proposal begins the formal process for public input, and hearings have been scheduled for August 10th and 17th in Bellingham.

A virtual hearing will be held on August 15th.

The rules are expected to be in place by the end of the year.